A LONDON DELFTWARE BLUE DASH ROYAL PORTRAIT CHARGER OF QUEEN ANNE

Circa 1702-14, Lambeth

13⅞ in. (35.2 cm.) diam.

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Painted with a full-length portrait of the crowned monarch, standing between trees with blue sponged leaves, on a green grassy bank, within yellow and blue concentric circles and dashes

Notes

This blue dash charger depicts a confident monarch with her regalia of crown, orb and sceptre, standing in a parkland setting.

Anne was the last of the Stuart line and succeeded her brother-in-law, William III. The Act of Settlement of 1701 was passed in the light of the succession crisis.   Anne had suffered numerous miscarriages, still-births or children dying within a few days and in 1700 her only surviving son, William, Duke of Gloucester died at the age of eleven.  Her sister, Mary II also died without issue so Parliament acted to stop the throne reverting to the Catholic Stuart line.   At 36 and after seventeen pregnancies Anne could not produce an heir so the Protestant George, Prince-Elector of Hanover was crowned King of Great Britain in 1714 following Anne’s death after prolonged illness.

A very similar charger from the Glaisher bequest is illustrated by Michael Archer, Delftware in the Fitzwilliam Museum, 2013, p. 13, cat. no. A.15 where the author tentatively attributes this type of dish to the Norfolk House Pottery.